| Unit name | Galaxies 301 |
|---|---|
| Unit code | PHYS34011 |
| Credit points | 10 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2C (weeks 13 - 18) |
| Unit director | Professor. Bremer |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
120 credit points of physics units at level I/5 in Physics, Physics with Astrophysics, Theoretical Physics, joint honours Mathematics and Physics or Physics and Philosophy. |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School of Physics |
| Faculty | Faculty of Science |
Introduction: discovery of galaxies, distance scales, redshifts and the expansion of the universe. Galaxy types: morphology; infra-red radio and X-ray observations, luminosities, sizes and surface brightness, galaxy environments structure of ellipticals, structure of spirals. Stars in galaxies: stellar types, lifetimes, stellar populations, stellar mass function, evolution. Gas in galaxies: neutral hydrogen, HII regions, molecules, gas distributions, dust, star formation. Galaxy dynamics: rotation and velocity dispersion of ellipticals, virial theorem, Faber-Jackson relation, supermassive black holes, rotation of spirals, rotation of the Galaxy, Tully-Fisher relation, Galactic halo, Galactic Centre, dynamical evolution. Galaxy formation and evolution: galaxies at high redshift - observations, galaxies at high redshift - theory.
Aims:
To provide a description of galaxies and their contents. To introduce the factors involved in galaxy evolution. To discuss the distribution of galaxies in a cosmological context.
Able to appreciate the scale and content of galaxies in the universe and see how observations of them are made. Understand how galaxies behave as dynamical systems and what this indicates about the matter content of the universe. Understand how galaxies may have evolved to their present states and how their distribution bears on the overall structure of the universe.
The unit will be taught through a combination of
Written, timed examination (100%)
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. PHYS34011).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an
assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
